Chasing my tail

 

 

 

 

 

Gosh I haven't been here for a very long time! I must try to do better. Life has been hectic and is about to get more so as Holy Week gathers momentum. The bike is still laid up for "winter" so hopefully the weather will soon improve so I can get back on two wheels. Just in case the weather does not improve I have almost completed my bus pass application as a significant birthday approaches.

 

Big dog and I enjoyed a break in the Trossachs in early March, during a very fortunate temporary improvement in the winter weather, much walking and swimming in the Loch's (big dog not me!)  

 

Some exciting times coming up in the summer - a visit from some fellow Gold Wing bikers with outings planned with ride outs around the Highlands, closely followed by a walking holiday in the Yorkshire Dales - must get Big Dog slimmed down enough to get through the sheep stiles. Back soon - I promise.

Happy Anniversary to me

Friday 3rd December, the Feast of Francis Xavier, was the 16th Anniversary of my priesting. Not only was I invited out to a delicious dinner but the Bishop's Confectioner, Douglas Campbell, made me a delicious Anniversary Cake modelled in the shape of a motorcycle crash helmet. Yum!

West Coast Extravaganza

The above picture is of Loch Carron and was taken as I was enroute to the Scottish Episcopal Church of St Donnan's Nostie last Friday the 16 April. At St Donnan's Father Tim Daplyn was installed by the Bishop of Moray, the Right Reverend Mark Strange, as Mission Rector.  The Church was full and there was so much noise and excitement that we attracted the neighbouring pig down off the hill to come see what we were up to!

From Nostie it was off to the Caron Hotel for a delicious late Supper and then off over the Pass of the Cattle to Applecross for an overnight stay in one of the most comfortable B & Bs I have ever stayed in. After a hearty breakfast it was off to St Maelrubha's Church Poolewe,where after a fine buffet lunch it was time to install Father Tim into his second charge.

Father Tim Daplyn is pictured left with Bishop Mark.

From Poolewe it was on to the Church at Courthill Chapel, Kishorn, where Father Tim was installed into his third charge. The service here was followed of course by more food in the Community Centre. The West Coast is renowned for its legendary hospitality so, tired and well fed I headed home to Forres to prepare for Sundays Services in my own Church at St John's Forres. All in all a very satisfying weekend, with a bit of history making as well as this is the first time for around 200 years that this group of charges has had its own Rector. With prayers and blessings on Tim as he begins his exciting ministry in that place.

Happy Birthday to me

Just back from a wonderful week away. We had a really joyful Easter here at St John's with the Triduum Services well attended and the Church full on Easter Day and was just ready for a break at the end of a very busy week. So off to Wales and the Llangollen Canal some brilliant weather, good company and good food. Thursday 8 April was my birthday and was celebrated afloat with family, good food and some very fine real ale!

As a relaxation Canal boating is really difficult to beat - no phones no internet, a maximum speed of 4 miles per hour. Combine that with really good weather and a willing crew and all is well!

Back home on Saturday night, a trillion emails, light flashing on the answer machine and the photocopier has run out of toner so tomorrows Pew Sheets are a little pale looking, but happy memories of a superb week.

Spring has sprung and so have the Windows

Have been neglecting the blog of late so here comes an update. Life has been extremely hectic especially work wise as we get ever closer to opening the new Diocesan Centre at Arpafeelie. The finishing touches of any major project seen to take so long and some aspects seem unnecessasarily complicated for example obtaining a new phone line and a broadband connection.  

But I digress. Spring has sprung and all around there are signs of new life the crocuses in the header picture are the view from the Study window across the road to the Grant Park.

It is a particularly clear view at the moment as there are no windows in the Study!

The Rectory is having its windows renovated by a company called Ventrolla the end result should be rattle free, draft free, easy opening windows. For anyone who lives in an 150 year old house with sash windows you will know that really will be a result. Will keep you posted.

Swimming in Loch Katrine

Imagine the scene a calm dry day in the Trossacks, which in itself is a fairly rare event, the temperature is three degrees and the surface of Loch Katrine is like a mirror which is suddenly shattered by a dive and a swim. Well no not me, it was the dog of course. A brief paddle about and then out, a quick shake and a run about and then on with the walk.

Made me think of brother Kelvin, not that he swims in Loch Katrine, at least not that I know of, though he does swim in his local baths in Glasgow and it was the Kelvin/Glasgow connection that made me think of him as Loch Katrine supplies Glasgow's water. So, Kelvin, the dog says sorry if you find blonde hair in your water, but she promises me she did not have a wee so your tea should taste fine!

That was yesterday (Tuesday) and today enjoying even better weather with temperatures that reached ten degrees today. Had a look around Doune today and a good walk with the dog along Loch Achray, yes more swimming. Lazy afternoon with the books.

On top of the World

Having tried to have a few days off after Christmas and failing miserably I am now enjoying a few days away in a little cottage in the Trossacks, just me, the dog, lots of books and some fantastic countryside.

Climbed Ben A'An today - sounds impressive dosen't it, but its not a Munro, not even a Corbett but Ben A'An has all the necessary attributes of a real mountain - a particularly steep, sometimes awkward path, a beautifully shaped summit and superb views from the top over Loch Acray and Loch Katrine.

The dog of course climbed it at least three times to my once and was still bouncing about when we got back to the cottage!

Winter wonderland and a Good New Year

The weather is interesting here to say the least. The above picture is the horses field and it is proving interesting to get hay and food to her each day. On returning from last nights trip to feed the horse we had great difficulty getting the car back into the Rectory Drive and this morning we can't get out so had to get a lift from another mad horse owner who picked us up at the roadside. The main roads are passable but the sideroads are treacherous and getting worse.

Not everyone dislikes the snow of course and just across the road from the Rectory the local youngsters are really enjoying the sledging in the Grant Park.

A really good new year to you all.

Chasing the Tail

Not much time for blogging at the moment. Writing sermons, preparing Service Sheets,  (unjaming the phocopier**!!**) Carol Services, Christmas School Assembly's, a funeral tomorrow and the last Diocesan Standing Committee Meeting of the year tonight at 6.00 pm which will mean navigating the Christmas Shoppers traffic in Inverness.

All this coupled with the seasonal good will that the Ministry of Defence are making massive cuts at RAF Kinloss, the Health Board are delaying the building of a new Health Centre in Forres and the Moray Council are massively overspent and think that the best way forward is to cut front line services, especially the education of special needs children.

Its enough to make you want to chase your tail!

Bells smells and Golf

What a great few days it has been here in Moray. On thursday, having been here for just over six years as priest in charge, I was installed as Rector at St John's Forres. The service was on thursday, the Feast Day of Francis Xavier and the fifteenth anniversary of my priesting. Bishop Mark presided and despite my anxious anticipation said nothing embarrassing in the sermon. The service was a High Mass with bells and smells followed by a sumptuous feast in the Rectory which turned into a very enjoyable evening indeed.

Today, tuesday, has been a wonderful day with clear blue skies, a bit of frost and an excellent game of golf on the Moray Old Course at Lossiemouth, made all the more enjoyable as my partner Bill and I cruised to an easy 3 & 2 victory.

Things go down hill a bit tomorrow as I have to be up at the crack of dawn to catch the 06.35 train from Inverness to Edinburgh to attend the Rural Futures Day Conference.

New Rector for St John's Forres

Tiz the season for looking forward in anticipation and the coming week is full of anticipation, especially Thursday 3 December.

Firstly Thursday is the Feast Day of Francis Xavier and is the 15 anniversary of my priesting.

Secondly Thursday is the day that St John's Forres will install their new Rector. I suppose it is often the case on occasions like this that the congregation may wonder "what will the new Rector be like?"

Well I can answer that question with a degree of certainty in that the new Rector will be much like the outgoing Priest in Charge!

You see I really will become "Rambling Rector" on Thursday because St John's have adopted a new Constitution which necessitates my resigning as Priest in Charge and being installed as Rector.

I am anticipating the service with a mixture of joy and apprehension. The Sanctuary Bell is polished and the Rosa Mystica is ready! The service is at 6.30 pm do come if you can, otherwise keep St John's and me in prayers.

Vegetarian Graduation

Spent Friday night and Saturday in Edinburgh to attend number two child's HND Graduation in Hospitality Management from Telford College. It was a great day and a very proud day for the whole family. It was a day that at one time I thought would never happen. Alan moved to Edinburgh some years ago now to attend University and decided not to complete his first year, having obtained employment in the Hospitality Industry. End of academia, or so the worried parents thought! Then two years ago, with no parental pressure what so ever, Alan announced that he was returning to study, the outcome of which was yesterdays graduation and two proud parents. Alan is continuing his studies and has already started his degree course, so another graduation ceremony to come.

The Graduation itself was very well done by Edinburgh's Telford College and took place in the McEwan Hall, Bristo Square. The Guest of Honour at these occasions, from past experience, can sometimes be a bit dull and irrelevant, but the speaker on this occasion was Iain Macleod McMillan CBE who is the Director of the Confederation of British Industry and his address was excellent.

So where does the "Vegetarian" part of the header come in you may ask? Well I am a committed carnivore and have been known to send back steaks that are overcooked i.e. not bloody. So after the event which ended at lunch time, proud dad says "where would you like to have lunch son, my treat?"

Alan is a vegetarian and said "I would like to go to David Bann Restaurant, on St Mary's Street", which unbeknown to me is a Vegetarian Restaurant. Having scanned the menu for dead animals and finding none I chose a Thai starter thing and a vegetable curry. Despite my scepticism an excellent meal that I very much enjoyed!

Head above the the parapet

My first blog! Well this is something I once said that I would never do, so I guess the first comment has to be "never say never". My reluctance about blogging has to a large degree been overcome by reading and learning from other people's blogs. Nonetheless it is still a bit scary putting your head above the parapet so I will send these few words off into the ether and see if there is anyone out there!